N.B. breaks record for flu cases and hospitalizations, as RSV and COVID-19 cases climb

New Brunswick has recorded an all-time high of 836 confirmed flu cases in one week and 115 hospitalizations, nearly double the previous record, says the acting chief medical officer of health.

About 17 per cent of those hospitalized were children and youth, Dr. Yves Léger told reporters Tuesday, a figure he described as being "maybe a little bit higher" than previous years.

Since the beginning of the 2022-23 flu season on Aug. 28, a total of 61 youth under age 20 have been hospitalized in New Brunswick, Léger revealed during a respiratory illness briefing. The majority of them have been under 10.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which infects the lungs and respiratory tract, also continues to "circulate widely," while COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations have increased in the past few weeks, said Léger.

The situation has deteriorated since his last media briefing on Nov. 18, when he urged New Brunswickers to help change the "worrisome" course of the triple threat of respiratory viruses by taking protective measures, such as wearing a mask indoors, limiting social contacts and staying home when ill.

'Call to action' hasn't helped

The simultaneous activity of these viruses is putting added pressure on strained hospitals and is impacting the education system and workplaces through high rates of absences, he said.

Léger had hoped sharing his concerns last month would "serve as a call to action."

But "that concern remains today more than ever," he said, particularly with holiday gatherings quickly approaching.

Léger warned he expects to see an increase in respiratory virus activity across the province after the holidays, "unless we all adopt many of these [protective] strategies."

3-fold increase in pediatric patients

As it stands, Horizon Health Network is dealing with the earliest and most aggressive start of the flu season it has ever seen, said vice-president of clinical operations Greg Doiron.

He participated in the briefing along with Sharon Smyth-Okana, vice-president of clinical services for the Vitalité Health Network.

Horizon hospitals are all reporting occupancy rates above 95 per cent, including the pediatric units and intensive care units, said Doiron. Emergency departments are seeing a high number of patients presenting with severe respiratory illness symptoms, he said.

"I know that some of our pediatricians are reporting a three-fold increase in pediatric patients presenting with upper and lower respiratory tract infections, and they're seeing patients that are sicker than they've been in the past."

Doiron and Smyth-Okana both urged people to consider other resources for non urgent medical needs, such as after-hours clinics and pharmacists, and to take steps to protect themselves and others.

Not ready to recommend mandates

CBC asked Léger why he doesn't recommend the government impose some mandatory protective measures in advance of the holidays. He said it's something Public Health continues to "discuss and review."

"These are measures that … remove people's liberties to make decisions on their own so they're certainly not taken lightly. And there are a number of factors that need to be carefully weighed before we make those decisions.

"We don't feel that we're there at this point. But certainly, if we do feel that we get there eventually we will certainly make sure that that gets communicated to New Brunswickers."

RSV cases jump 602%

RSV is not a reportable disease in New Brunswick, but the number of lab-confirmed cases has jumped 602 per cent in three weeks, according to the latest figures posted by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A total of 316 New Brunswickers have tested positive for the virus, as of Dec. 3, up from 45, as of Nov. 12.

By comparison, at the same time last year, New Brunswick had 72 cases, according to the national respiratory virus report.

RSV can result in severe infection in some people, including infants, older adults, adults with heart or lung disease, or with a weakened immune system.

Although RSV cases continue to increase, the positivity rate seems to have levelled off, "which may indicate some stability is taking place," said Léger. 

"Stable does not mean low," he added.

COVID claims 7 more lives

COVID killed seven more New Brunswickers in the past week, according to Tuesday's COVIDWatch report.

Forty people are currently hospitalized because of the virus, according to the province, while the two regional health authorities say they have 130 people hospitalized either for or with COVID, including six in intensive care.

A total of 1,247 new cases of COVID have been reported, including 819 lab-confirmed cases and 428 cases self-reported by people who tested positive on a rapid test.

6 more flu deaths

The flu killed another six New Bunswickers between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3, raising the total number of deaths so far this season to 20, the latest influenza report, posted Tuesday, shows.

The victims have ranged from their 30s to their 90s, according to the Department of Health. They died between Oct. 20 and Nov. 28, said spokesperson Adam Bowie.

No other details about the victims, such as any underlying health conditions or their vaccination status, have been released.

The province's flu death toll all of last season was five.

The 836 lab-confirmed cases reported during the week in question, referred to as week 48, is the highest ever recorded since the province started influenza reporting 17 years ago, Léger told reporters.

The previous record occurred during the 2009-10 season, when 712 cases were confirmed, according to the department.

A total of 1,811 positive cases have now been reported this season, although the actual number is likely much higher because most people don't get tested for the flu. They simply stay home.

The 115 flu hospitalizations is nearly double the province's previous record high of 69 in January 2019, Léger said. Most involve people 65 and older, he said. The total hospitalizations for the season so far is 350.

He noted the province is doing "a lot more testing" than in previous years. "That additional testing could account for part of the increase in cases or even hospitalizations that may have been missed in previous years," he said.

"Nevertheless, an increase in respiratory virus activity was expected this year, which is reflected in part through this testing."

The test positivity rate is also continuing to increase, he said, but remains below the historical high.

Flu shots still 10% below last year

As of Dec. 12, a total of 196,976 influenza vaccines have been administered, according to the Department of Health. That's down about 10 per cent from the 219,475 vaccines administered at the same time last year.

"It's important to note that flu immunizations began a week earlier last season, and some changes around the reporting process for pharmacies and primary care providers may be contributing to a lag in the reporting of this data," the department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

In B.C., where six children have died after contracting influenza this fall, the government launched a flu vaccine clinic blitz last Friday. It opened drop-in clinics across the province for all residents aged six months and older throughout the weekend.

Asked why New Brunswick isn't offering something similar, Léger did not answer directly, but did say the lower than usual vaccination rates are a concern.

"We do want to message that and emphasize the importance of getting [the] flu vaccine," he said, noting there is availability of doses and clinics.

"We are looking at increasing our messaging around our campaign to encourage people to do that," he added, without providing any specifics.

Of the shots administered so far, about 8,164 have been for children aged six months to eight years, and 7,814 for youth aged nine to 18 years.

A total of 83,317 shots have been administered to people aged 19 to 64 years, and about 97,681 have been provided to those aged 65 years or older.

The flu shot is recommended for all New Brunswickers aged six months and older, with a higher dose available for those 65 or older.

The seasonal influenza vaccine is available free of charge through a variety of immunization providers, including participating pharmacies and Public Health clinics.

May hold public update in future

Asked why he didn't hold a news conference members of the public could watch instead of a media briefing, Léger said he feels media briefings are "quite effective" at getting information out to New Brunswickers.

"But certainly [it's] something that we will look at going forward," he said.

It's been months since Public Health held a public update.

The opposition has repeatedly called for a public update. Last month, Liberal health critic Rob McKee, the leader of the Official Opposition, alleged Léger was "being muzzled" by the Higgs government.

On Tuesday, Léger denied the government has any sway over the timing of his updates and whether they are available to the public.

"I've always committed to making sure that I would communicate with New Brunswickers when there were important messages to share," he said.

"I do remain committed to doing that and will continue to do so and feel that I'm quite able to make those decisions on my own, as part of Public Health."